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Meet Doug Fleit, the CEO co-founder behind AREP and PowerHouse Data Centers, who's been rewriting the real estate playbook since 1981. To date, Doug, alongside his partner-in-innovation Brian Katz, has deployed over $7 billion of assets in the U.S. real estate sector and delivered myriad deals and developments in key markets throughout the country. His career is fueled by a deep-rooted passion for transforming spaces and the communities in which we live. From his entry into development through his advisory career, he set the rules and established new benchmarks for quality development and consulting for institutions and corporations alike.

Doug shifted gears in 2003 and, alongside his colleague and business partner Brian Katz, co-founded their own real estate investment and development platform from the ground up: American Real Estate Partners (AREP). As a real estate disruptor, AREP reshapes both skylines and portfolios with a focus on residential, data center, and office assets. Today, AREP stands as the vanguard of value creation, turbocharging investments through its ironclad expertise and disciplined timing.   

In 2021, Doug founded PowerHouse Data Centers, a national data center platform, as a branded vertical of AREP. PowerHouse's growth is founded on Doug's relentless pursuit of excellence industry-wide to become one of the most active innovative data center developers in the U.S.  With his exacting eye on opportunities to define industry trends, Doug has led PowerHouse to pioneer next-gen data center models, providing hyperscale users with lightning-fast solutions that are as flexible as they are powerful. Currently, with over 30 data centers underway or in planning, representing well over 2.3 GW in six major markets, PowerHouse has quickly established itself as a leading data center developer for the industry’s most important users.

Together, Doug and Brian provide their best-of-class class approach to every aspect of investment and development. They instill this into their extraordinary team and shape a culture of self-growth as well as mentorship so that the AREP and PowerHouse teams deliver the highest and best value for their investors and customers.  Through the firm's CSR program, AREP Cares, PowerHouse supports worthy nonprofit partners across key areas ranging from Medical Research and Healthcare, Military Veterans and their families, to addressing Child Hunger. 

Doug holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology & Neurochemistry from the University of New Hampshire. He has served on Washington DC-based institutional and nonprofit boards. As a sought-after subject matter expert, Doug is a frequent speaker on real estate topics, both locally and nationally, and has taught classes in real estate strategy.